Following the interim report of the Cass review of gender identity services for children and young people, James Sunderland raises concerns about NHS treatment of gender dysphoria in children which insists on making a child’s expressed gender identity the start-point for treatment, and does not to track patient outcomes, particularly for under-18s.
James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)
T9. The Cass review interim report found that to date there is a profound lack of evidence on the best approach to treat gender dysphoria in children. Does my right hon. Friend share my concern that in spite of this the NHS insists on making a child’s expressed gender identity the start-point for treatment, and my surprise that the NHS has chosen so far not to track patient outcomes, particularly for under-18s? (906507)
Sajid Javid (The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care)
I share my hon. Friend’s concerns, which is why the NHS commissioned this review from one of our top paediatricians. It is already clear to me from her interim findings and the other evidence I have seen that NHS services in this area are too narrow; they are overly affirmative and in fact are bordering on ideological. That is why in this emerging area, of course we need to be absolutely sensitive, but we also need to make sure that holistic care is provided, that there is not a one-way street and that all medical interventions are based on the best clinical evidence.